Q&A With a SafetyLine Customer: NL Health Services

More than 500,000 people live in Newfoundland and Labrador, and providing essential healthcare services and programs is NL Health Services, which recently began using SafetyLine through its communications provider, Bell, to protect its lone workers out in the field and the communities and sometimes in areas where there is no cell reception. 

SafetyLine’s business relationship with Canada’s telecommunication company Bell, allows SafetyLine to provide companies an add-on feature for an optional service under the existing Bell Mobility cellular services contract.

We spoke to Carl Thomas, a regional workplace safety manager for NL Health Services, about how they onboarded SafetyLine with Bell and how it has helped maintain the safety of its employees, mainly through its automated check-in system. 

What sparked your decision to start using SafetyLine with Bell to help protect NL Health Services workers? 

“When using the previous check-in or check-out process, there was a possibility of human error. For example, if an employee didn't check in during the specific timeframe, and the monitor/supervisor was busy - or didn't know the employee was working alone at the time - then no one was checking in on them to ensure they were safe.  

Also, having the ability to adjust and customize check-in times for different operations when needed was an added benefit.” 

Has SafetyLine benefited your operations in any way? If so, how has it impacted operations?    

“Using the satellite system helps employees when they travel to areas without cell reception. The system is very quick and easy to use with just a press of a button. When used correctly, SafetyLine can literally be a lifesaver. 

It’s helped supervisors and managers ensure the safety of their employees who are working alone without the need to monitor the clock for check-in and check-on times.” 

In addition to operations, how has SafetyLine specifically benefitted your employees and lone workers?

“When employees use SafetyLine and they haven't checked in within a certain timeframe, the monitor automatically gets a notification about the issue and can follow up quickly.  The employees feel safer knowing that someone is there to monitor their movements and, if required, intervening actions can take place to ensure their safety.” 

SafetyLine as a solution 

The employees at NL Health Services can face a range of safety hazards that include workplace violence, biological hazards as well as slips and falls, just to mention a few. When working alone, the risk and severity of these hazards are increased, so they require someone to monitor their safety in these situations as well as where help must be sent in an emergency. 

“Employees know that when they use SafetyLine, there’s always someone there to check on them if they should need it,” Thomas explains. “Their location’s tracked, and the member of staff can also leave a recorded message to state anything they deem important for their whereabouts.” 

It is the importance of these details and context that communicate an accurate, overall picture of the lone worker’s safety to the employer and safety monitor at the time. 

“When employees update their personal profiles fully it makes it easier for the monitors to follow up with them if there needs to be any intervention or follow-up,” he says.